Please encourage your union to affiliate to Trades Council

What follows has been taken from the TUC web site on Trades Union Councils.

Trades Union Councils bring together unions to work and campaign around issues affecting working people in their local workplaces and communities. Trades Union Councils aim to:

raise public awareness of rights at work and the union role in enforcing those rights.

promote organising and recruitment drives to build union membership.

support union and community campaigns for dignity and respect in the workplace and beyond.

With the threats of racism and fascism, changes in the labour market and debates over the future of public services, the trade union voice in the community is as important as ever. The capacity of trades union councils to provide a local response and to organise trade unionists into coalitions with other progressive forces is crucial. They do this by providing services which keep local trade unionists up to date with developments within the wider trade union movement, and by taking up relevant local industrial and community issues.

How Trades Union Councils work

Trades Union Councils consist of trade unions or branches of trade unions which meet within the area covered by that council, or which have members working or living in the area. A union branch will normally affiliate to the trades union council in the area in which it meets. Each branch will then send delegates to the trades union council’s meetings. These branches pay an affiliation fee. Their delegates elect officers from amongst themselves to represent the views and priorities of the constituent branches and to take responsibility for working for and supporting the policy of Congress and the TUC General Council. This is because trades union councils are registered with the TUC, rather than being entirely independent bodies. The Annual Conference of Trades Union Councils takes place over a May weekend.

Trades union councils use their unique place in their community to promote a positive vision of trade unions – a democratic force for fairness and progress in the modern workplace in touch with the concerns of trade union members and the community.

Please encourage your union to affiliate to Trades Council.

What follows has been taken from the TUC web site on Trades Union Councils.

Trades Union Councils bring together unions to work and campaign around issues affecting working people in their local workplaces and communities. Trades Union Councils aim to:

raise public awareness of rights at work and the union role in enforcing those rights.

promote organising and recruitment drives to build union membership.

support union and community campaigns for dignity and respect in the workplace and beyond.

With the threats of racism and fascism, changes in the labour market and debates over the future of public services, the trade union voice in the community is as important as ever. The capacity of trades union councils to provide a local response and to organise trade unionists into coalitions with other progressive forces is crucial. They do this by providing services which keep local trade unionists up to date with developments within the wider trade union movement, and by taking up relevant local industrial and community issues.

How Trades Union Councils work

Trades Union Councils consist of trade unions or branches of trade unions which meet within the area covered by that council, or which have members working or living in the area. A union branch will normally affiliate to the trades union council in the area in which it meets. Each branch will then send delegates to the trades union council’s meetings. These branches pay an affiliation fee. Their delegates elect officers from amongst themselves to represent the views and priorities of the constituent branches and to take responsibility for working for and supporting the policy of Congress and the TUC General Council. This is because trades union councils are registered with the TUC, rather than being entirely independent bodies. The Annual Conference of Trades Union Councils takes place over a May weekend.

Trades union councils use their unique place in their community to promote a positive vision of trade unions – a democratic force for fairness and progress in the modern workplace in touch with the concerns of trade union members and the community.

24th MarchIndependent Socialists in Wellingborough will be hosting a meeting about the Junior Doctors dispute and the future of the NHS. There will be a representative of the British Medical Association and/or a Junior Doctor spokesperson. The meeting starts at 8.00pm in the Rising Sun pub, corner of Canon Street and Mill Road, Wellingborough. Contact Paul Crofts paulcrofts@gmail.com

5th April: Save Northants Services (SNS) meeting. Venue to be decided. If anyone can help with finding one (preferably free, cheap and with good access) please let Paul know paulcrofts@gmail.com

16th April (Sat) People’s Assembly March/Demo for Homes, Health, Education and Jobs. Go to the events page via http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk for details. If anyone is organising a coach let me know and I can advertise it.

Outsourcing Meeting Report by Ron

John Burgess, Barnet UNISON Branch Secretary, led a discussion of how trade unionists and community residents can organise to combat councils’ attempts to outsource public services. Drawing on the experience of the London Borough, where since 2008, many public sources have been outsourced or privatised, John cited examples of campaigning activity, including holding stalls, petitioning, speaking at council meetings, grilling councillors with questions and political action aimed at unseating Tory councillors.The 25 who attended the meeting resolved to meet in the near future to build a movement in Northamptonshire to contest NCC’s plans to outsource a range of public sources to Community Interest Companies.

The Northampton ​TUC secretary has reserved a room at the Doddridge Centre on Wednesday 7 October at 7:15 for the meeting to kick start a campaign against outsourcing of NCC services. Feel free to spread the word to colleagues, neighbours and friends, since the Barnet campaign took off when they involved not only trade unionists but community residents also.

Tory Party Conference Protests and Events

Travel – it’s a bit late to book coaches now – details have already been circulated. If you want to attend the TUC demonstration at the Conservative Party Conference 4th Oct, there is NUT transport available from Northampton or Kettering.

08:30 Coach departs from Cornmarket Hall (Kettering)

09:00 Departure from Mounts Car Park (Northampton)

12:30 Estimated arrival at Oxford Road or police directed drop off point (Manchester)

4 October join Defend Council Housing in a housing contingent on the big TUC People’s Assembly march in Manchester. The DCH Contingent assembles 12.30pm by the National Computing Centre, Oxford Rd, M1 7EF.

Also the People’s Housing Conference 10 October 10-5 at Friends Meeting House Euston Rd in London, will bring together tenants, trade unions and housing activists. DCH with Unite the Union, the People’s Assembly and many others are collaborating to build on the growing housing movement. For details and to book see The People’s Housing Conference. And housing and health campaigners will join protests 21-23 October in Olympia, West London, when developers gather to buy up public land: see more information and leaflet here. Sign up to resist attacks on council housing, along with Jeremy Corbyn, Caroline Lucas, councillors, trade unions and tenants: see statement
And pass this statement against means testing by Councils and housing associations – see model resolution.

Domestic Abuse

Next Northampton Solidarity Network meeting

After a lively meeting on the pros and cons of the EU, it has been decided that the next meeting will discuss the results of the Labour Leadership election and think about ‘where to now?’ The provisional date and location are Tuesday 22nd Sept at the Sheep St Working Men’s Club. More details to be announced.

Refugee Crisis

12th Sept Stop the War Demo ‘Refugees Welcome Here’. Assemble Marble Arch 12.00, march to Downing St. For more details: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

There’s a lot of important work to be done this year. A key national focus will be to fight the TU Bill, so please support events locally and nationally, and get your workplace colleagues involved. Don’t forget we now have a Facebook Page too at https://www.facebook.com/groups/NorthamptonTUC/

Events

7th Sept: 7.30 Northampton Solidarity Network meeting on ‘The Left and the EU/Common Market In or Out – What’s the Socialist View? Northampton Working Men’s Club Sheep St. More details: Socialists and the EU 1

12th Sept: NTUC stall in town against the TU Bill. 11.00 Abington St Cobbler’s Last statue. Please let Graham know if you can help out secretary@ntuc.org.uk.

21st Sept: Full NBC Council Meeting 6.30 – NTUC hopes to give in a petition on the TU Bill. Print off copies and return by scan/email to secretary @ntuc.org.uk by the 18th Sept. Please get as many signatures from your workplace as possible – we need minimum 2000: trade union bill petition ntuc 2015

22nd Sept: Regional Public Rally against the TU Bill and Austerity, 7pm Church Room, Carrs Lane, Birmingham, B4 7SX. See here for poster and details of speakers.

24th Sept: Full NCC Council Meeting 10.30. NTUC hopes to give the petition in again (see 21st Sept).

24th Sept: 7.00pm NTUC open meeting with John Burgess Secretary of Barnet Unison ‘Defending Against The Outsourcing of Public Services’. John will be talking about Unison’s lengthy fight against the outsourcing of council services. This is very relevant to all employees of NCC and NBC so please get people along. https://www.facebook.com/events/893340927414542/

3 – 7 Oct: TUC and People’s Assembly events at the Conservative Party Conference, Manchester. See PA website for info including accommodation, transport and comedy night. Events timetable. TUC March and Rally on 4th, assembling at 12.00 at Oxford Rd for a rally at 1.00 and the march at 1.30. Local transport – does anyone have details of coaches? If so please contact me sarah@ntuc.org.uk and/or Graham at secretary@ntuc.org.uk. Lots more info on the PA’s website and the TUC.

At the time of writing, beware – I think the events tab on the PA site has been hacked, so don’t click on anything suspicious. My links still worked.

Trade unionists, grassroots activists & their families are supported at the Ron Todd House by providing practical solidarity in the form of food, washing facilities, a place to stay etc. We are seeing up to 30 trade unionists and their families a week seeking help and over the summer holidays we have been distributing hundreds of packed lunches each week to trade unionists who are struggling to make ends meet during these times of austerity.

Community Court Yard is aware that 1 in 5 young people in Northamptonshire are living in real poverty and through the Ron Todd Foundation, we are already planning for Christmas. We estimate that we will be distributing around 150 Christmas hampers to support those trade union members who will not have the financial resources to provide food and heating over the Christmas period for their family.

Family is extremely important, which is why we are asking our trade union family to support us in the task to give our brothers, sisters and their families an easier Christmas this year. We are asking trade union branches and activists to consider supporting this cause by either affiliating to the Ron Todd Foundation or to make a donation to Community Court Yard specifically for this project.

Events

15th/16th August: Umbrella Fair, N’ton Racecourse – http://www.umbrellafair.org.uk/. NTUC will be running a stall both days. Any campaign group except political parties can join us. Also we welcome help to man the stall. Please contact Graham at secretary@ntuc.org.uk

Other News and Links

Northampton Solidarity Network: Following the well attended and lively meetings on ‘The General Election results and the Left’ and ‘The significance of the recent events in Greece’ it was agreed to hold meetings on ‘Arguments to counter austerity’ and on ‘How the Left should relate to Common Market/EU’. These will be after the summer break. Contact: 01604 752588.

National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) http://shopstewards.net/2015/07/nssn-252-victory-for-glasgow-homelessness-case-workers/ carries a long list of current action – there is more going on than the media would have us believe. In particular the Glasgow Homelessness Caseworkers have won a significant victory after 17 weeks of strike action. Also Deutsche Postal Workers in Germany have won a broad pay and conditions agreement on good terms after 3 months of action. We need to publicise these victories and support disputes.

Reports

Thanks to Cas Hawkins for the photos. Here’s an extract from Ron Mendel’s account, to give you a flavour.

The march was huge, well over 200,000 participants, and consisted of entire families, young and old, and every movement for social justice and peace one can think of.

More important perhaps than the breadth of support was the espirit de corps of the participants – buoyant, defiant and committed. Talking to a number of marchers (not only my family ) I was encouraged by our shared sense of purpose which a national demonstration of this size and scope can reinforce. I think I do not just speak for myself that we feel more energised, inspired and committed to building a mass movement against austerity. Of course, that means some of the demanding work needs to be done locally, and towards that end hopefully we can initiate the process of forging an ecumenical coalition of activists and others in Northamptonshire.

Unite workers have won a great victory with a disciplined and well organised approach. Click Smurfit Kappa for report. Thanks Craig for the info.

Events

30 June 7.30 Sheep St Working Men’s Club Socialist Discussion and Action ‘The Successes and Action of Syriza and Podemos – is this the future for a UK Socialist Movement?’ Leaflet: Socialist Discussion

13 July Open Trades Council Doddridge Centre Tomalin Room. The meeting will be in 2 parts: 7 – 7.30 normal NTUC business for delegates amd 7.30 to 9 open meeting to discuss outsourcing of council services. John Burgess, Branch Sec Unison at Barnet Council, will be the speaker. Unison has been fighting privatisation there for some years and now we face the same thing here. What lessons can we learn? http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/

15/16 August Umbrella Fair. NTUC will be having a stall both days. Please contact Graham Croucher at secretary@ntuc.org.uk if you want to be involved and/or do a stint on the rota. The NTUC focus will be on basic TU recruitment and building for future meetings against Austerity. We will also distribute the Vision For Northampton Leaflet.

June 18: Healthwatch Northamptonshire Annual Meeting 6 – 8pm N’ton College, Booth Lane, NN3 3RF. All 7 county MPs have been invited to form a panel discussing the future of health and social care in the next 5 years. Ring 01604 893636, text 07951 419331 or email enquiries@healthnorthamptonshire.co.uk

Hi everyone, I am hoping to get back to more regular newsletters. What I will try to do is shorter but more frequent ones, though this happens to be a bit long! I have done it in a rush, so apologies for any mistakes – let me know if you spot one.

Events

Sat 2nd May: Hoping to have an NTUC stall in town to give out the leaflet A Vision For Northampton (‘Vision Final‘) This will be at 11am just by Burger King on the market square. If you can help let me or Ron know. Leaflet folds into 6 little pages. Please print it out for distribution or display or send round the pdf. We have had some very favourable responses and will be doing a longer pamphlet for the autumn covering more areas.

Friday 8th May, Cuba Solidarity Campaign event at the NN Cafe opposite the museum in the town centre. With exciting recent developments in Cuba, CSC Northampton is pleased to invite you to a special fun evening celebrating Cuban culture with music, dancing, cocktails and snacks. Tickets are limited so please advise your requirements as soon as possible. For tickets and more information please contact cubasolidarity.northampton@gmail.com. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to funding activities to raise awareness and there will be a separate raffle raising money for the Music for Cuba fund.

16th May: Northants Red Rope trip to Levellers’ Day, 16th May 2015, Burford. Levellers Day, marking the execution of 3 Leveller leaders in Burford during the Civil War, is on 16th May from 10.30. It includes a speakers’ event and a short parade through the village – guaranteed to annoy the Tories in this, Cameron’s constituency. We finish the day with a circular Red Rope walk along the Windrush river, past the remains of an abandoned medieval village and on through attractive Cotswolds countryside (moderate 4-5 miles). The 2015 theme for the day is Education. The speakers are: Melissa Benn – Journalist and writer, Kevin Courtney – Asst Gen Sec, National Union of Teachers, Danny Dorling – Radical social geographer and Professor of Geography at Oxford University, author of a recent book on the UK housing crisis.

13th June: Defend Council Housing, 11-4.30pm at Bloomsbury Baptist Church Hall in central London.Tenants and housing campaigners are meeting to spell out how we will win our demands after the election. Sessions on What Next for March for Homes, the Tenants Manifesto, Anti Benefit Cuts campaigns, trade unions and housing, private renters and rent control, and the Fight for Council Housing – against demolition, sell off and privatisation. Get your tenant group, trade union or community organisation to come along. For more details and leaflets contact info@defendcouncilhousing.org.uk.

20th June: People’s Assembly National Demonstration and Festival against Austerity in London. More details to come. Assembling at the Bank of England. They are asking for affiliations to the PA and donations to run the march and festival. They have a motion which can be used at branch meetings. Flyers can be printed out too. For more details: http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/affiliate

Unite: Second wave of strikes over Bromley council’s mass privatisation – Bromley council’s plans to carry out a mass privatisation of services are being challenged by members of Unite with a second wave of strikes. The selected strikes from 27 April to 19 May dovetail with the stand of the council’s Labour group which has accused the Conservative-dominated authority of being ‘openly committed to being a ‘commissioning council’ and to reducing the number of council employees from 4,000 to 300’. Unite’s selected strike action will hit libraries (27 April-30 April); the parks (5 May); strikes by all the branch members, except school staff, on 1, 7 and 19 May; and at the Astley care centre and the passenger services (13-19 May).

Unison: UNISON members who still work for Barnet Council (excluding schools staff) will be taking strike action on Thursday 30 April & Friday 1 May – The dispute will involves coach escorts, drivers, social workers, occupational therapists, lschools catering staff, education welfare officers, library workers, children centre workers, street cleaning & refuse workers, all of whom have made it clear they want to remain employees of the Commissioning Council.